A publisher in New Westminster

Here are total commuting costs for my family of four living in New Westminster, a suburb in Greater Vancouver.

We have two children aged nine and 11 who both need transport to local public schools. We have one car. My wife drops off our children at school and then carries on to work in South Vancouver, about 12KM total travel distance one-way.

My commute to downtown is about 22KM one way. I mix it up with a bike one day and public transit the next.

The cost of running our car was on the low side. We have an 18-year-old Subaru Forester, which didn’t require any major repairs this year. Most of the maintenance cost was putting on and taking off winter tires.

Yes, the maintenance and clothing costs for my bike was on the high side. You try riding to work year-round in Westcoast weather and see how you feel about skimping out on commuter clothes.